Historical calendar: anniversary of the secret arrangement between Józef Piłsudski and Simeon Petlura, leader of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
Today in our calendar we will look at the circumstances of this event.
The Autonomous and then independent Ukrainian People's Republic claimed to be in crucial pre-selection areas of the Republic of Poland. The country may have been a serious opponent for the reborn Poland (especially in the case of cooperation with Germany), but as the Ukrainian civilian administration was organised efficiently, it did not go hand in hand with the equally effective formation of armed forces. interior conflicts among Kiev's villains have dragged the country down.
As early as mid-1918, there was a coup d'état and the creation of the alleged Hetmanat of Pawło Skelepadski at the head. Subsequent crises were exploited by Bolsheviks and white generals, who independently attacked the young state, eliminating them completely until 1920. A bigger problem for Poles was the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (ZURL) created in October 1918, which based its state existence almost exclusively on anti-Polish sentiments.
On 1 November, Ukrainians attacked the Lviv, but heroic defence of Polish residents stopped the enemy. The battles showed, among others, the teenage children of the alleged Orlęta Lwowski. The isolated city fought bravely for weeks. In the end, the forces of Michał Karaszewicz – Tokarewska, followed by the blue army of Józef Haller, were able to save themselves. By July 1919, Poles pushed the Ukrainians behind Zbrucz. In the face of a common Bolshevik enemy, Józef Piłsudski signed a truce with Ukrainian chief Semen Petlura on 1 September.
The reborn Poland began to rapidly grow its armed forces. In Warsaw, it was realized that the large confrontation in the east is inevitable and will affect not only the course of future state borders, but above all the destiny of the regained independence.
Attempts to agree with white generals in order to fight Bolshevikism together have failed, for from Denikine After Kołczak, they collectively refused to recognise free Poland within limits another than those of 1815. Shortsighted Whites fought to reconstruct the state of possession before planet War I, and all indicated that after a possible triumph over Lenin, they would attack Poland.
The consequence of their attitude was a deficiency of coordination of actions against communists, who grew stronger, threatening both them and Warsaw. Polish staff concluded that regardless of the result of the Russian civilian war, the confrontation with the winner was inevitable. It was decided to occupy as far east as possible the routing, giving the Republic an extended operational depth. The first battles with the Red Army took place in February 1919 in Bridges in Belarus.
The Bolsheviks retreated before the Polish army, clearly playing on time to break up another opponents. By the end of the year, Poles occupied Pinsk, Novgorodek, Vilnius and Dyneburg, reaching Berezin.
The success of communists in the fight against whites caused Poles to halt fighting Ukrainians and unite forces with them against the common enemy. On April 21, 1920, a political agreement was signed under which the Polish government recognized the sovereignty of URL with the capital in Kiev, in exchange for a joint fight against Bolsheviks. Furthermore, the URL government recognized the Polish-Ukrainian border on Zbrucz. This meant that he would quit areas west of the river.
Both countries besides undertook not to conclude global agreements against each another and guaranteed the rights of Ukrainian people in Poland and Poland in Ukraine.
On 25 April, a large offensive of the combined Polish-Ukrainian troops began, completed on 7 May, erstwhile troops of General Edward Śmigłego – Rydza captured Kiev. The intent of the operation was not only to occupy Ukraine, but besides to provoke the Red Army to a decisive battle. The plan was successful, but 2 things were not foreseen. Firstly, a tiny social support of Ukrainians for the government of URL and Petlura. Second, the scale of the russian response.
Previous entry from our calendar is available Here..
